Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company
Why it's listed
Whip making has gone on in this red brick factory on Elm Street in Westfield since the late 1880s. The building has a 3 1/2-story main block with segmental-arched windows, limestone sills and corbelled brick cornices, plus two single-story rear additions from about 1894-1905. It was built by the A. G. Barnes Whip Company and later passed to the U.S. Whip Company, the Rogers Silver Company and several smaller firms. Westfield called itself the whip city of the world, and at one time more than 60 whip enterprises operated there. This plant is the sole survivor still in operation. The interior has changed very little, and original machinery such as whip rounders, rattan splitters and thread winders remains, much of it still working. The property was listed for its link to the local whip industry and as a well-preserved example of late 19th century industrial building.
Significance in brief: The factory is tied to the whip industry that made up some 80 percent of Westfield's economy in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is an intact example of typical late 19th century industrial construction. It also keeps its original whip-making machinery, much of it still working, and is the last operating whip manufactory in the city.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85003233, listed October 17, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 360 Elm St., Westfield |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | October 17, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003233 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887-1892 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In near-continuous use as a whip manufactory since the late 1880s; the interior is largely unchanged and much original machinery is still in use. The company is described as the only whip maker still operating in Westfield. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Westfield Center Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.12818, -72.74682 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85003233.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7988778
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.